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Man arrested in Waldo Canyon home burglary case

DNA found on a beer bottle in a ransacked Rockrimmon home that was evacuated during the Waldo Canyon fire led investigators to one of two suspects in the burglary, court documents said.

According to court documents, 20-year-old Graylon Thomas's DNA was found inside a residence where more than $6,300 worth of property was taken. The items were recovered in a silver truck investigators later determined also was stolen from the home's garage.

Thomas is believed to be one of two men who jumped from the stolen truck when an officer patrolling the area encountered it driving west on Raven Hills Court, court documents said.

Investigators said that after the two men fled from the truck on foot, the officer had to reach inside the moving vehicle and shift it to park to prevent it from hitting his cruiser.

Although police were unable to find the men after searching the area, they came across new leads after visiting the Rockrimmon home to which the truck's plates were registered.

At the home, located in a neighborhood northwest of Rockrimmon Boulevard and Woodmen Road, the window screen had been cut, electronics and tools had been taken and open containers of beer and Fresca had been left on the counter.

The drinks were still cold, according to investigators.

DNA lifted from the drinks belonged to two different men, court documents said.

Both men remained unidentified for more than year, until December, when a DNA "hit" came from Thomas, who was being held in the Pueblo County jail on suspicion of several offenses, including assault on a peace officer.

Police are still working to identify the other looter and have not determined if Thomas is a suspect in other burglaries that occurred in the evacuation zone. In August of 2012, police reported that at least 42 homes and 43 cars were burglarized during the evacuation.